Marine lift worth $20m to deliver 100 jobs to region

IN LESS than a month's time, 300 tonne ships will be able to receive repairs at the new $20 million marine travel lift in Urangan.

While touring Hervey Bay with senator Barry O'Sullivan, Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt met with Steve Murphy from Murphy Shiplifts at the lift construction site, which is in the final stages of being built.

Mr Murphy said once the lift was complete, it would create about 100 permanent jobs and bring further business to the region.

"These will be stable jobs for every time of the year, not like tourism or whale watching," Mr Murphy said.

The travel lift is the biggest in Queensland between Brisbane and Cairns, and Senator O'Sullivan said large investments from businesses owned and run by families on the Fraser Coast created confidence for other businesses.

"They see how confident the business is in the region and says to them it is a smart move to also invest," Mr O'Sullivan said.

"For every dollar spent by the one family business, it will make six, seven or eight dollars in return; it's basic economics."

Federal member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said Government support for families making big investments in their communities was paramount.

"This is a business that creates jobs," Mr Pitt said.

"A government's job is to provide structures, but it's the businesses that create jobs.

"For us, by making changes to tax rates and funding for training, we are assisting businesses with their abilities to then support the community."

During their tour, Mr Pitt and Mr O'Sullivan also visited the Hervey Bay Cold Stores at the Australian Ocean King Prawn Company and QMulching businesses.

Senator O'Sullivan said he was impressed by the innovation of businesses on the Fraser Coast.